Visa information

Many students can study in the UK for up to six months without a visa and some nationalities need to apply for a Standard Visitor visa.

For courses longer than six months, all international students need to apply for a visa before travel.

Burlington School is accredited by Accreditation UK. We can issue you a letter of acceptance to say you will be studying at Burlington School so you can apply for a Short-Term Study Visa.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Do I need a visa to study at Burlington School?
- Students from some countries do not need to apply for a visa before they travel.
- To see if you need a visa, please visit https://www.gov.uk/check-uk-visa
How long can I study with a visa?
- You can study for up to 11 months (if you are aged 16 or over) with a Short-Term Study Visa.
What level of English do I need to apply for a visa?
- You do not need to show your level of English if you are applying for a Short-Term Study Visa; however, you should have studied English in your own country.
How old do I need to be to apply for a visa?
- If you are 16 years old or more, you can apply for a Short-Term Study Visa for up to 11 months.
How much does a visa cost?
- The cost of a visa depends on what country you are applying from and how long you intend to study. To find the price for your application, see https://www.gov.uk/visa-fees.
How can Burlington School help me apply?
- Burlington School offers a pre-application service for students applying for a Short-Term Study Visa. This will help you to find out what you need to do, and will help you make sure you have all the information and documents you need for your application.
- Please contact us for further information.
Any other questions?
- The UK Government website has full guidance on applying for visas.
- For Short-Term Study Visas, visit https://www.gov.uk/study-visit-visa
- Alternatively, you can contact us , and we will be happy to help.

Standard Visitor Visa

Who needs a visa?

Students of any nationality on the ‘non-visa national’ list below do not need a visa to study in the UK for up to six months. Students from Gulf Cooperation Council countries should apply for an Electronic Visa Waiver.

All other nationalities need to apply for a UK Standard Visitor visa before they travel. See key facts below.

In all cases, students are able to study flexibly in the UK for up to six months. They are allowed to study at any institution that has an accreditation recognised by the UK government. All language centres that are accredited by the British Council for the teaching of English are suitable. Students are allowed to change course or change provider within the six month period in the UK.

The following nationalities can study in the UK without a visa, for up to six months:

Any EU or EEA country
Antigua and Barbuda Argentina Australia
Bahamas Barbados Belize Botswana
Brazil Brunei Canada Chile Colombia
Costa Rica Dominica East Timor
Grenada Guatemala Guyana
Honduras Hong Kong Israel Japan
Kiribati Macau Malaysia Maldives
Marshall Islands Mauritius Mexico
Micronesia Monaco Namibia Nauru
New Zealand Nicaragua Palau Panama
Papua New Guinea Paraguay Peru
Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucia
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Samoa San Marino Seychelles Singapore
Solomon Islands South Korea Switzerland
Taiwan Tonga Trinidad and Tobago
Tuvalu United States of America
Uruguay Vanuatu Vatican City

Notes for students arriving without a visa

Some students who do not require a visa to visit the UK are able to use the electronic passport gates (eGates). Students can only use the eGates if they are at least 12 years old, have a biometric symbol in their passport and are from the list of eligible countries (EU countries, Japan and South Korea amongst others).

All other students will speak to a border officer who may give them a Standard Visitor stamp in their passport. The officer may ask the student about their plans, so the student should explain their intention to study and have the course confirmation letter to show as well as evidence of the money they have to pay for the course.

> Find out more about what happens at border control on the GOV.UK website

Note that all visitors from the European Union need a passport to enter the UK.

Electronic Visa Waiver (EVV) for visitors from Gulf Cooperation Council countries

Students from Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia or United Arab Emirates should apply for an Electronic Visa Waiver (EVV) before travel, which allows study for up to six months. This is quicker and cheaper than applying for a visa. Apply between 3 months and 48 hours before travel. Cost is £30. Find out more.

The EVV will soon be replaced by a new Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA), which will cost £10 per applicant and be valid for two years.

From 15 November 2023, you’ll need an ETA if you’re travelling to the UK and you’re a national of Qatar. You’ll be able to apply from 25 October.

From 22 February 2024, you’ll need an ETA if you’re travelling to the UK and you’re a national of Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia or United Arab Emirates. More nationalities will be added to the scheme later.

Students who need to apply for a visa

Students from any country not on the above list will need to apply for a Standard Visitor Visa before travelling to the UK, which allows study for up to six months.

Key facts: Standard Visitor visa

Visitors with a Standard Visitor visa are allowed to study in the UK flexibly during the validity of the visa, which is usually six months.
Students can study at any UK institution with a government-approved accreditation. All British Council accredited language centres are suitable.
Students can change course or change provider.
No minimum level of English required.
Students cannot work with this visa, but they can volunteer.
The application cost is GBP100.

How to apply for a Standard Visitor visa

When and where to apply:

Students can apply for a Standard Visitor visa up to three months before they travel.
They can apply for the visa from anywhere in the world.
The application form can be found online on GOV.UK.

Required documents:

Students need a current valid passport with a full blank page available for the visa.
If the visitor plans to study in the UK during their visit, they should include a letter of confirmation from an approved accredited institution to show evidence of their plans. Students do not need to pay the full course fees before applying for a visa.
Details of where they plan to stay in the UK. If accommodation is booked through the school, details including cost should be included in the confirmation letter.
Evidence of enough money to pay for course fees, accommodation and living costs.
Certified translations are required for any documents that are not in English. See the guide to supporting documents on GOV.UK.
Students from some countries need to show evidence of a valid tuberculosis screening. Check the list of countries on GOV.UK.

Extra requirements for students under 18 years old:

Students who are under 18 years old must provide contact details for at least one parent or guardian in their home country.
If the student is travelling on their own they must have written consent from both parents (or one parent if they have sole responsibility) or their legal guardian. Ask the language centre for a template letter to ensure this meets the requirements.
If the student is travelling with an adult over 18 years old who is not their parent or guardian, they need to name the adult on the visa application. This name will appear on the student’s visa. Two adults can be named on the application and the student must arrive with at least one of them.
Find full details on GOV.UK.

Attending a visa application centre

After submitting the application form and required documents, visitors need to book an appointment at their nearest UK visa application centre to provide biometric data: their photo and fingerprints.

Check if local application centres are open

Most visa application centres are now open. Find a visa application centre on GOV.UK to check. If local visa application centres are closed due to Covid-19, it is still possible to start the process online. See ukcisa.org.uk for details.

Attending a visa application interview

Students applying for a Standard Visitor visa may be required to attend an interview. They should check their emails regularly, including the ‘junk’ folder to ensure they do not miss the invitation. Students can contact their language centre for advice to help them prepare for an interview.

Response times

Students can usually expect a response within three weeks. Some visa application centres offer a priority service for an additional fee, though service times are not guaranteed. Students should apply for their visa at the earliest possible opportunity, up to three months before their planned travel date.

Short-term study visa

Key facts: Short-term study visa

No minimum level of English is required.
Students must be 16 years old or above when they arrive in the UK.
Students must have a plan to study at a UK institution with a government-approved accreditation. All British Council accredited language centres are suitable.
The visa is only valid for study at the institution that is named on the application form.
Students cannot work with this visa, but they can volunteer.
The application costs GBP200, plus GBP470 fee for the immigration health surcharge (see below).
Extensions: students can extend their original course booking up to the end of their visa validity period (maximum of 11 months).

Application process: Short-term study visa

When and where to apply:

Students can apply for a Short-term study visa up to three months before they travel.
The application form is online on GOV.UK.

Immigration health surcharge

All students who apply for a visa for longer than six months must pay the immigration health surcharge as part of the online visa application. They will then be able to access national health services in the UK during their stay. This includes free doctors appointments and hospital services. For a visa that is valid for between six and 12 months, the cost is GBP470. The cost increases with the length of the visa. Use the government’s immigration health surcharge calculator.

Required documents:

A current valid passport with a full blank page available for the visa.
A letter of confirmation from a UK government-approved accredited institution. This needs to include the course name, duration and cost, including accommodation. Students do not need to pay the full cost before making a visa application.
Details of where the student plans to stay in the UK. If accommodation is booked through the school, details including cost should be included in the confirmation letter.
Evidence of enough money to pay for course fees, accommodation and living costs. Learn more about providing evidence. Students do not need to pay the full course fees, travel or accommodation costs before applying.
Certified translations are required for any documents that are not in English. See the guide to supporting documents on GOV.UK.
Students from some countries need to show evidence of a valid tuberculosis screening. Check the list of countries on GOV.UK

Extra requirements for students under 18 years old:

Students must be 16 years old when they arrive in the UK to be eligible for the Short-term study visa.
Students who are under 18 years old must provide contact details for at least one parent or guardian in their home country.
If they are travelling on their own they must have written consent from both parents (or one parent if they have sole responsibility) or their legal guardian. Ask the language centre for a template letter to ensure this meets the requirements.
If they are travelling with an adult over 18 years old who is not their parent or guardian, they need to name the adult on the visa application. This name will appear on the student’s visa. Two adults can be named on the application and the student must arrive with at least one of them.
Find full details on GOV.UK.

Attending a visa application centre

After submitting the application form and required documents, most students need to book an appointment at their nearest UK visa application centre to provider biometric data: their photo and fingerprints. EEA nationals do not need to attend an application centre if they have a biometric chip in their passport. Instead, they scan their passport through an app.

Check if local application centres are open

Most visa application centres are now open. Find a visa application centre to check. If local visa application centres are closed due to Covid-19, it is still possible to start the process online. See the UKCISA website for details.

Attending a visa application interview

Students may be required to attend an interview. Students should check their emails regularly, including the ‘junk’ folder to ensure they do not miss the invitation. Students can contact their Sponsor institution for advice if they are preparing for an interview.

Response times

back

Visa information

Frequently Asked Questions:

Standard Visitor Visa

Who needs a visa?

Notes for students arriving without a visa

Electronic Visa Waiver (EVV) for visitors from Gulf Cooperation Council countries

Students who need to apply for a visa

Key facts: Standard Visitor visa

How to apply for a Standard Visitor visa

When and where to apply:

Required documents:

Extra requirements for students under 18 years old:

Attending a visa application centre

Check if local application centres are open

Attending a visa application interview

Response times

Short-term study visa

Key facts: Short-term study visa

Application process: Short-term study visa

When and where to apply:

Immigration health surcharge

Required documents:

Extra requirements for students under 18 years old:

Attending a visa application centre

Check if local application centres are open

Attending a visa application interview

Response times

This website is using cookie files